Foldable Phone Hinge With Variable Length Display Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable mobile terminals with flexible displays face issues such as compression damage during folding, reduced screen-to-body ratio, accumulation of impurities, and increased thickness due to the design of existing hinges, which compromise the integrity and portability of the device.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring symmetric first and second folding assemblies with rotatable and slidably connected components that adjust length to accommodate the flexible display without compressing it, forming an accommodation space during folding and a support surface during unfolding, while maintaining a seamless appearance and preventing creases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the hinge length does not change during folding, then the hinge structure is simple, but the flexible display is compressed and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge employs a dynamic length adjustment mechanism where the hinge length changes during the folding process. The hinge includes a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion connected by a hinge axis, with the hinge length being adjustable to match the display folding radius, preventing compression of the flexible display while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge dynamically changes its length parameter during folding operations. The hinge length is adjusted to be greater than or equal to the display folding radius, transforming the hinge from a static component to one with variable dimensions that adapt to the folding state, thereby protecting the flexible display from compression damage.
2Reliability
If the flexible display is slidably disposed on housing to prevent compression, then the flexible display is protected from compression, but a hollow area is formed reducing screen-to-body ratio and accumulating impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flexible display from the sliding mechanism on the housing and instead integrates it with the hinge structure. The display is disposed on the hinge portions rather than sliding on the housing, eliminating the hollow area between display and housing that causes impurity accumulation while maintaining protection from compression through the adjustable hinge length.
3Device complexity
If the hinge uses a single shaft for folding, then the hinge structure is simple, but insufficient deformation space is provided causing display creases and large gaps after folding
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is segmented into a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion connected by a hinge axis, with each portion having specific functions. This segmentation allows the first hinge portion to provide support and the second to enable folding, creating sufficient deformation space for the display while maintaining structural simplicity and ensuring no large gaps are formed after folding.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge and a mobile terminal to resolve poor use effect of a foldable electronic device. The hinge includes a main body, and a first folding assembly and a second folding assembly that are symmetrically disposed along the main body. When the first folding assembly and the second folding assembly are rotated toward each other, a length of the hinge can be extended, and an accommodation space for accommodating the flexible display can be formed. When the first folding assembly and the second folding assembly are rotated away from each other, the length of the hinge can be reduced, and a support surface for supporting the flexible display can be formed, so that the flexible display cannot be stretched, compressed, or the like during folding and unfolding, thereby improving the use effect and safety of the mobile terminal.